Nelson

Nelson English Centre is a family owned, middle sized school in beautiful Nelson, New Zealand. There are fourteen classrooms and great facilities, situated in the heart of the city. School founder James Upton has a long history in EL teaching and before starting the school was a teacher trainer for the UCLES CTEFLA course. We aim to have internationally acceptable standards of teaching and have close links with the UK English teaching profession. The Nelson region is one of New Zealand's top...

Founded 1841, Nelson is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand. It is also the main city of the Nelson Tasman region, an area known for its beautiful scenery.

The Māori name is Whakatū, meaning to 'build' or to 'establish'. Today, 3600 Māori live in the Nelson city area, and they represent the fastest growing Māori community in the country.

The city of Nelson is located right at the heart of New Zealand, and surrounded by stunning landscapes: from the hills and mountains of the world famous Abel Tasman National Park to the beautiful sunsets on the beaches of the Tasman Bay.

Nelson provides a mild sunny climate year round and magnificent landscapes from alpine lakes, raging rivers and wide sandy coastlines. The possibilities are endless for leisure activities: kayaking, walking, skiing, or simply sunbathing on the beach. No wonder Nelson was recently voted “top spot in New Zealand for visitors and holiday makers” by the Rough Guide.

There is no shortage of activities for English language learners in the Nelson region.

What makes Nelson very special is the lifestyle. The region has the lowest crime rate in Australasia. It also has a vibrant music scene and covers a wide variety of styles, from Jazz to chamber music. Nelson is known as the art capital of New Zealand, thanks to its talented craftsmen: potters, glassblowers, or fibre artists, or even Jens Hansen Goldsmiths where "The One Ring" was designed for the Lord of the Ring Trilogy. As for food, there is no shortage of fresh seafood. Nelson winemakers are renowned for aromatic varieties that complement fish, scallops, clams and green-lipped mussels that feature on the menus of creative chefs.

Attractions include the Nelson Provincial Museum, the oldest museum in New Zealand, which houses the largest photographic collection in the country, the Suter Art Gallery, and Nelson’s World of Wearable Art and Classic Cars Museum. Also worth a look is the art deco Christ Church Cathedral and visitors can explore Founders Heritage Park, which stages public events throughout the year, including the annual book fair, Evolve Festival, and Marchfest.

Nelson is a friendly place with close and caring communities, both in the city and in the smaller neighbouring towns.

Furthermore, Port Nelson is the largest fishing port in Australasia. Of course, the ‘big four’ industries in the Nelson Tasman economy include seafood, but also horticulture, tourism and forestry generating jobs for locals and even for travellers or students.